Murder Most Austen

Murder Most Austen

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Deadly Masquerade

It's an unexpected pleasure no self-respecting Jane Austen devotee can resistespecially Elizabeth Parker. An all-expenses-paid trip to the annual Jane Austen Festival in historic Bath is just what she needs after a career setback and a most perplexing question from her boyfriend. But the festivities are instantly riven with controversy thanks to insufferableand influentialprofessor Richard Baines. No amount of censure will stop him from publicly announcing an unproven, downright scandalous theory about Austen's life

until he receives the ultimate cut directa knife through the heart during an extravagant masked ball. Not surprisingly, there are no shortage of suspectsincluding Baines's spoiled trophy wife, his put-upon assistant, his disaffected son and his greedy daughter-in-law. And when loyal Austen defender Cora becomes the prime suspect, Elizabeth delves deep into a viperous nest of concealed motives and ruthless deceptions. But stopping this sinister masquerade means matching wits and going sword to sword with someone skilled in the art of death.